Healthcare industry

Press release - 14/02/2011

University of Heidelberg – natural substances to combat cancer and excess weight

It is difficult for natural substances to enter the drug industry. With the aim of enabling secondary plant substances to reach consumers, the Department of Biology at the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Heidelberg has joined the Bioactive Plant Products network.

Article - 14/02/2011

A molecule that enables local virus defence

Dr. Markus Mordstein has spent the last four years as a doctoral student at the University of Freiburg investigating the previously relatively unknown interferon lambda. He has been able to show that this molecule has similar protective functions to type I interferons and he has also found that it is far more selective in terms of the site where it exerts its effect.

Nycomed signs an agreement for the acquisition of Laboratorios Farmacol S.A. located in Colombia to further grow its presence in the Latin American region. Farmacol S.A., a Colombia based pharmaceutical company, has a strong presence in the areas of gastroenterology, respiratory and gynaecology.

Article - 10/01/2011

Review: What does the cell factory of the future look like?

A symposium on “Cell Factories of the Future” was held at the Laupheim-based company Rentschler Biotechnologie on 14th and 15th October 2010. The event attracted around 70 scientists from academia and industry and will now take place every two years. The symposium focused on new biomanufacturing developments and technologies, and included lectures on (animal) cells, cell factories and the future of recombinant protein production.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has included roflumilast (Daxas®) as a new treatment option in its COPD management guidelines. A section on the new class, phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, describes the efficacy of roflumilast in patients with COPD.

Article - 03/12/2010

Review: Science meets Business Day 2010 (part II)

How can plant physiologists and seed developers work together to achieve an understanding of the processes happening in the germinating plant embryo in order to improve the seed quality of sugar beet? How can virologists find new ways to switch off the flu virus and develop a marketable vaccine in cooperation with industrial partners?

Germans like natural solutions and show a marked preference for medicines made from St. John’s wort, valerian, devil’s claw or Marian Thistle. However, when taking herbal medicines people are well advised to be cautious: "herbal" does not automatically mean safe, warns Thomas Simmet, pharmacologist from the University Hospital of Ulm.

Strasbourg, France based NovAliX SAS today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Graffinity Pharmaceuticals GmbH of Heidelberg, Germany, a leading fragment based drug discovery services company. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Press release - 16/11/2010

Nycomed is keeping the pace in third quarter 2010 - US Food & Drug Administration to decide on the approval of Daxas®

Nycomed’s strategy of focusing on emerging markets and specialty products is paying off. The third quarter results shows that the sales of Key Products and in emerging markets are continuing to help offset the impact from the loss of exclusivity of pantoprazole. Daxas® (roflumilast) has recently been launched in the first EU markets and further launches are underway over the coming months. To accelerate the expansion in China, one of the fastest…

Press release - 04/11/2010

Nycomed to acquire of majority stake in Guangdong Techpool Bio-Pharma

Nycomed today announced that it is significantly expanding its presence in China through the acquisition of a majority stake in Guangdong Techpool Bio-Pharma Co., Ltd. (Techpool), a fast-growing Chinese bio-pharmaceutical company based in Guangdong. Techpool, founded in 1993, specialises in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of biologic drugs derived from natural sources.

SYGNIS Pharma AG (Frankfurt: LIO; ISIN DE0005043509; Prime Standard) announced today a comprehensive, strategic restructuring of the company, which will include significant personnel and cost reductions. The process has been approved by the Supervisory Board and will be executed immediately.

Press release - 03/09/2010

Vetter opens new sales office in suburban Chicago

Vetter is combining its U.S. activities in the emerging pharmaceutical and biotechnology region of Illinois: Vetter has opened a new sales office in suburban Chicago to focus on its strategy of U.S. growth and expansion.

Nitec Pharma AG, a spin-off from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany) and Horizon Therapeutics, Inc. (USA) have announced the combination of their businesses to become Horizon Pharma, Inc. and the filing of a registration statement for a proposed initial public offering. The company’s Mannheim-based subsidiary, which is focused on the development and commercialisation of drugs for the treatment of pain and chronic inflammatory diseases, has been named…

Article - 09/08/2010

Elara Pharmaceuticals

The Heidelberg-based biotech company ELARA Pharmaceuticals is focused on the development of treatments of tumours through the inhibition of the hypoxia signalling pathway (HIF) and through the induction of apoptosis. The company’s lead candidate targets multiple myeloma, a cancer that arises in the plasma cells of the immune system.

Article - 10/07/2010

WEE-Solve GmbH – removing troublemakers

The purification and fractionation of polymers using innovative methods is of huge importance in many areas, including pharmacy and cosmetics. This is due to the fact that some polymers can only exert their full effect after fractionation. WEE-Solve GmbH offers innovative methods and scientific experience in polymer fractionation and rheology.

Press release - 25/06/2010

Vetter to invest further millions in the construction of a modern centre for visual inspection and logistics in Ravensburg

Ravensburg-based Vetter is expanding further. Last Friday, Vetter, a specialist in aseptically pre-filled drug-delivery systems, held a ceremony to break the ground for the construction of a new centre for visual inspection and logistics. Together with representatives from politics and industry, the company’s executives broke the ground for the new facility, which is estimated to cost more than 30 million euros. The construction of the new centre…

Press release - 24/06/2010

febit Announces Operational Restructuring

febit today announced a restructuring as a consequence of its strategic focus on blood-based microRNA biomarker discovery febits major business development in 20092010 and on partnerships and intellectual property IP commercialization. The new focus includes the collaboration and provision of high-end services for clinical researchers in academia diagnostic companies and the pharma industry. The operational restructuring resulted in a reduction…

Press release - 11/06/2010

comes compliance services enriches BioLAGO network

The addition of comes compliance services to the BioLAGO network broadens the life sciences associations skills in the fields of regulatory requirements and quality management systems. The company offers quality management systems audit services IT project management services quality risk management and validation services.

Press release - 31/05/2010

New antibody for the treatment of multiple myeloma

Boehringer Ingelheim and Micromet have entered into a collaboration for the research development and commercialisation of a new antibody-based treatment of multiple myeloma a cancer of the bone marrow that remains largely incurable.

Article - 17/05/2010

Dietmar Hopp: Awarded Great Cross of Merit on his 70th birthday

Dietmar Hopp entrepreneur and co-founder of SAP sports patron biotech investor provider of funds and great promoter of his native region has turned 70. To celebrate the occasion the German Federal President has awarded Hopp the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Bundesverdienstkreuz which was presented to him by the Baden-Württemberg Minister President Stefan Mappus.

Article - 29/04/2010

The biopharmaceutical industry remained stable in times of crisis

The German biopharmaceutical industry has come through 2009 without experiencing too many major slumps. The roaring growth of the biopharmaceutical industry in previous years has been replaced by more moderate growth. This is the result published by the 4th Medical Biotechnology report in 2010 compiled on behalf of the biotech interest group of the vfa bio Association of Research-Oriented Pharmaceutical Companies by the Boston Consulting Group.

Press release - 08/04/2010

Latest Trend: Investment-Fonds by Big Pharma

Boehringer Ingelheim announced the launch of its corporate venture capital fund the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund BIVF. The BIVF aims to invest in Biotech and Start-up companies that provide ground-breaking therapeutic approaches and technologies to help drive innovation in medical science.

Article - 28/03/2010

Acrovis biostructures: because the beginning of a process is crucial

Targeted substance design using an advanced platform technology that takes into account the natural dynamics of pharmaceutical substances and targets early on during the discovery process – this is what the Ulm-based biopharmaceutical company Acrovis biostructures GmbH offers. Acrovis has all the instruments needed to be able to optimally determine the structure of pharmaceutical substances.

Article - 22/03/2010

IBR Inc.: Dual strategy for safe and effective drugs

IBR Inc. a science-based provider of preclinical and clinical services specialises in inflammatory diseases. The analyses it carries out for the pharmaceutical and biotech sector help exclude potential side effects of specific drug candidates early in the development process.

Article - 18/03/2010

Giant becomes even bigger: Teva acquires ratiopharm

As it turned out, the deal went through quicker than expected. The world’s biggest generic pharmaceuticals producer Teva Pharmaceuticals is set to acquire the Ulm-based competitor ratiopharm for around 3.6 billion euros. Representatives from both companies and other parties involved in the bidding process announced the signing of the purchase agreement in Cologne on 18th March.